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| Reaper drones are full-size aircraft designed for reconnaissance and surveillance |
The unmanned US drone crashed into the Black Sea after colliding with a Russian fighter plane, according to the US military.The event underlines the increased potential of direct confrontation between Russia and the US over the Ukraine crisis.The Pentagon claims the drone was on a regular operation in international airspace when two Russian jets sought to intercept it.
Russia stated the drone fell following a "sharp movement", and denied that the two aircraft made physical contact.The MQ-9 Reaper drone was reportedly flying with its transponders off, according to the Russian defense ministry. and an an r. a. n.......... Reaper drones are 20-meter (66-foot) wingspan surveillance aircraft.
A drone crash is a potentially dangerous situation.Approximately 07:03 Central European Time (06:03 GMT) on Tuesday, the US military reported the event."Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and collided with a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and total loss of the MQ-9," according to the statement.The Su-27 fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone several times before the collision in a "reckless, environmentally unsound, and unprofessional manner," according to the report.The US summoned the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, to protest against the move.vs. the state of the world.Tensions have risen over the Black Sea ever since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the US and the UK have stepped up reconnaissance and surveillance flights, though always operating in international airspace.The key question is whether Tuesday's encounter was an attempt by Russia to disrupt the US drone and its work, or whether it was a deliberate attempt to bring it down.
According to the US, there has been a "pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots" interacting with allied aircraft in the region.So this could simply have been a mistake by a Russian pilot who got too close as they "buzzed" the drone. But if this was a deliberate attack on a US aircraft by a Russian warplane, then that would amount to a huge provocation and a substantial escalation.In that case, the attack would be seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to test the response of the United States.Western allies have worked hard to stop the war in Ukraine escalating into a direct confrontation with Russia. But this incident over the Black Sea is just that. The US will now have to evaluate its response.As US military commanders warned in their statement, this was a dangerous act that "could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation".
